Gundappa Viswanath exhibited an excellent strokeplay. He can be regarded as a genuine artist with the bat. His late cut played with his strong wrists was absolutely divine. He could play spin and pace equally skillfully. While playing against fast bowlers, he waited for the ball to come and while playing against spinners, he used his footwork. When it really mattered, he really came good.
In the 1970s, Viswanath was as important to the Indian team as Sunil Gavaskar was though the statistics do not assert this statement. When he debuted in 1969-70, he hit a century. In 1974-75, while playing at Madras against West Indies, his matchwinning and unbeaten 97 against Andy Roberts was particularly memorable. While playing against New Zealand at Christchurch in 1975-76, he displayed knocks of 83 and 79. In 1978-79 against the West Indies at Madras, his matchwinning 124 came on a fiery and bouncy pitch.
Career Highlights
Gundappa Viswanath has played in 91 Test matches wherein he has scored 6080 runs at a batting average of 41.93. His highest score was 222. He clobbered 14 centuries, 35 half centuries and 6 sixes. While fielding, he took 63 catches. 1 dismissal took place in the 70 balls that he bowled and 46 runs were scored.
